DESPITE a slow start, Western Australia came away with a solid 22-point win over Central Allies in the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships that saw both sides play an exceptional defensive game.

It was a scrappy defensive contest early, with both sides putting on some intense tackling pressure and finding good separation to intercept mark but ultimately having difficulty driving the ball inside 50. Both Western Australia and Central Allies were driving hard into every contest but denying their opposition easy ball use in attack, seeing the first score of the game go to Central Allies late in the first term thanks to a dribbler from Teah Charlton to give them the lead heading into the break.

The second quarter saw Western Australia fight their way back into the contest, winning better ball back and pushing forward with intent. WA also tightened up their defence through the half back, forcing the ball to be kicked long or chipped forward and finding plenty of space to deny opportunities as they did so. Meanwhile, the Allies found little space in front of goal credit to Western’s defensive effort, only putting a behind on the board in the quarter. The Black Ducks kicked three goals credit to their tenacity running forward, while the Allies had some good passages of play but were making nothing of it inside 50 with Western’s defence rock solid.

Western Australia attacked hard early in the third, with Central finding plenty of the ground ball but giving the Ducks too much separation to move the ball downfield. The likes of Shantel Miskin-Ripia and Montana McKinnon were solid defensively, cutting off drives inside 50 with defensive intercept marks but their efforts were not backed up through the midfield who gave it away almost immediately credit to the pressure of the Black Ducks. A goal right before the siren saw WA extend their lead to 15 heading into the final term.

WA backed up their second and third quarters with a goal to start the term, coming into the last with a fire in the belly while Roxanne Roux came back on after a head knock to continue her spectacular form. Though Western Australia’s defence was impenetrable in the second half they were put through the wringer, under continuous pressure by a fighting Allies side. The Allies missed opportunities but not for a lack of trying, mainly because of the intense pressure that Western Australia applied smothering them at every opportunity and confusing the space resulting in the Allies being unable to find a clear target inside 50 credit to the pressure of WA.

Nyra Anderson topped disposals with 24, four tackles and six clearances, aided by Mikayla Bowen (21 disposals, nine tackles, four clearances, four rebounds, one goal) who provided a solid option across the field. Madison Newman was among the best for Central Allies with 19 disposals, closely followed by Charlton (15 disposals, nine tackles, five inside 50s) and Miskin-Ripia with 12 touches and six rebounds.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.0 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 5.2 (32)
CENTRAL ALLIES: 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 (10)

GOALS:

WA: M. Bowen, I. Lewis, M. Hyde, J. Briggs, M. Morrison.
CA: T. Charlton.

ADC BEST:

WA: N. Anderson, M. Bowen, I. Lewis, M. Hyde, B. Webb, S. Verrier
CA: M. McKinnon, M. Newman, T. Charlton, T. Usher, S. Miskin-Ripia, J. Tabb